Work to reduce vast health discrepancies in New Orleans neighborhoods: An editorial

The wide discrepancies in the quality of life of New Orleanians in different parts of the city have long been documented. But a report that shows life expectancy varies as much as 25 years depending on ZIP code is still striking.

John McCusker / The Times-PicayuneA report found life expectancy in New Orleans varies as much as 25 years depending on ZIP code, in part because of discrepancies in health care access.

The data should prompt city, state and federal health officials to continue efforts to bridge chronic inequalities in health care and other social and economic conditions in numerous city neighborhoods.

The report, by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, found that average life expectancy in ZIP code 70112, the city's poorest in parts of Mid-City and Treme, is only 54 1/2 years. That's comparable to the health prospects of people in some sub-Saharan African nations. In large areas from Central City to parts of the Bywater to the Upper and Lower 9th Wards, life expectancy is only slightly better: 58 years or less. In all these areas, residents are mostly African-American.

By contrast, life expectancy in mostly white neighborhoods reaches well past 72 years. In ZIP code 70124, which includes much of Lakeview and the lakefront, life expectancy nears 80.

The discrepancies should be disconcerting for all New Orleanians. There's a moral imperative to address health inequalities. New Orleans has made strides in addressing those inequalities since Hurricane Katrina, including the opening of dozens of clinics in low-income neighborhoods and having primary care doctors assigned to monitor residents' overall health.

But this report shows that continuing these efforts is essential, particularly addressing lingering deficiencies, including limited health care services for some residents. The report also called for expanding health education programs into public schools, and that should be considered.

There also an economic argument to be made. The medical costs related to health inequities of minorities nationwide reached $230 billion between 2003 and 2006, according to the report. Including indirect costs, such as lost productivity, the number reached $1.2 trillion.

"It's a privilege to live in certain areas," said Andre Perry, leader of the research team and associate director of educational initiatives at Loyola University. "But it is also true that there are frenetic neighborhoods where people are dying before their time."

That is intolerable. New Orleans children should not see their health prospects severely limited simply because of their street address.